Several types of deadly cancer can be stopped or treated if found early enough. But many Central New Yorkers avoid the screenings even though they’re more convenient and available than ever. WAER’s Chris Bolt starts a series on the latest in detecting certain cancers. Today: Why people don’t let modern medicine help.

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WAER's Chris Bolt examines the problem of people not getting recommended cancer screenings, start of a weekly series on cancer prevention.

There’s plenty of public education efforts out there to try and convince people to get screened for any number of cancers.

“Its pretty frustrating...especially given how much media attention is given to breast cancer,” says Doctor Mary Ellen Greco with Upstate Breast Care Center.

She can’t understand why people don’t take advantage of widely available tests.

“The number of patients who come to my office who haven’t had a mammogram in 4-5 years. And they’re still seeing a physician regularly. So you wonder where the disconnect is. Is it misinformation or fear of what they might find?”

“There certainly is a portion of the population that has the mindset I don’t what to know...if there’s something there so be it.”

She struggles with convincing them to see the other side and get screened, especially because of the almost universal truth that early detection leads to better outcomes and saves lives. Greco also struggles with explaining the conundrum.

“It doesn’t seem to be as much of a financial or insurance issue, as it is just a lack of knowledge or fear of getting them, but I think screening is more available and convenient that people think.”

Mammograms are just one type of cancer screening that can lead to early detection and treatment. Others include colorectal cancer and cervical cancer.

These missed opportunities come at a time when there’s more access and more coverage of preventive medicine because of Obamacare.

“That is the hope, that more people will have health insurance; hopefully more people accessing these screenings. A lot of times if people don’t have insurance, they don’t have primary care physicians and that’s a disconnect as far as people achieving health care and getting preventative screenings done,” says Young.